Fruit-picker.



I F. J. SLENKER.

FRUIT PICKER. APPLICATION FILED ocT. I5. Isls.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

y 'Flinn J. smiunna,v vor" SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

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Tofa'ZZ fwriwnez'zf maychcern: v y

,Be tknown that I,, F RED QI. SLEN-KER, a

citizen of the United States, residing atr use the.. same.

This 'invention relates to fruit pickers and has special reference to a fruit pickerdesigned to pick fruit oneat `a time and conduct them down a'- flexibleI chute4 to the ground or a convenient receptacle.

@ne important 'object' 'of' the invention is piece or crown is made of a single blank of sheet material of novel and improved construction. f

A second important object of theinvention is the provision of a fruit Vpicker of novel construction wherein the chute is detachable from the crown and the pole is also detachable both from the crown and chute these parts being held together when'in use.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated there is provided a blank of sheet metal having a body portion 10 which, in the process of manufacture, is bent into substantially cylindrical form with one end 11 overlapping the other end 12. The overlapping end is secured to the end edge of the end 12 Applcatonled Octcber 16, 1916. *Serial No: 125,915.

" FRUIT-rrenna.V

` Y Specification of Lettersat'ent. l Patentedlct. 2,1917

by means ofv bolts orrivets 13--and isthen outwardly bowed as` at 14k Vto form av pole socket.V The edge of the voverlapping end is ysecured tothe other end 12 adjacent its end edge butspaced therefrom as by *they bolts or rivets 15. 'p 'Ilhe bowed portionxis provided with alined openingsv 16 for thereception of a securing pinl 17 for the pole 1'8. Furthermoreathis blank has inverted U- shaped slits cut-therein forming upwardly .extending tongues 1:9 which are struck out tc consti-tute hooks, Extending upwardv from the blank lis a series of spaced fingers 2() having rounded rootportiens and rounded tips. as clearly seen from Fig.. 1.(

At' 21 is a chute made of fabric or other suitable flexible lmaterial and. the. upper; end

the Provision of a Pickel. wherein the top. ofthis chute is engaged over the lower end of the picking member or crown and carries rings 22 which engage on the hooks or tongues 19. Secured along this chute 21 are pairs of tie straps 23 which are so arranged that they canbe brought around the pole and there tied for the purpose of securing the lower part of the chute to the pole.

In using the device the parts are assembled by connecting the chute to the crown and placing the pole in position so that the pin may be passed through and holdthe crown and pole together. The chute is -then tied at a suitable point to the pole and the bottom of the chute held closed while the operator thrusts the crown up into position `so that the fruit lies within the circle formed by the fingers. Then by moving to one side or the other the fruit is detached and dropped down through the chute. The operator may have a. basket or other receptacle suspended athis waist and by opening the lower end of the chute the fruit will fall gently into the basket without bruising or injury. It will be obvious that by picking the fruit in this manner it is preserved in its proper state since the fruit is picked one -at a time and is not harmed asis occasioned by shaking the tree or boughs. It will also be obvious that owing to the construction of the crown of a single blank the device mayv be very economically manufactured since it can be stamped out and bent to shape and since the lingers are so formed as to permit the stamping out with the minimum waste of material.

^ Having thus described the invention, whatAL is claimed as new, is y n 1. A top member for fruit pickers consisting of a blank of sheet metal having a rer-V duced end portion, a pole engaging socket formed from the, reduced portion of the blank, means for securing one-end of the blank to the other end of the blank to form a cylindrical member, means for securing the free edge ofv the pole receiving socket to the blank, and upwardly extending tongues struck out from the cylindrical portion of the blank to form hooks for the attachment of a chute, said blank Jfurther havingupwardly directed fingers extending from its upper edge.

2. A top member for fruit pickers consisting of a blank of sheet metal, onev end of which is reduced, means for securing the other end of the blank to the body portion thereof at the base of the reduced portion to provide a cylindrical member,- a pole receiving socket formed from the reduced portion of the blank and securing its free edge to Copies of this patent may be obtained for the body portion of the cylindrical mem ber, upwardly extending tongues struck out from the blank to form a chute attaching means, and upwardly projecting fingers formed on the upper edge of the flat ortion' of the blank to forma cylindrical member.

, 3. A top member for fruit pickers consisting of a blank oi sheet metal bent into sub-y fstantially cylindrical form with one end and `forming hooks for the attachment of `a chute, said blank further having upwardly directed fingers .extending from its upper edge. l l* Y In testimony whereof, I aliX my signature, inthe presence of two witnesses.

FRED J. SLENKEE.y

. Witnesses:

JAMES REILLY,

RALPH GUsswEIN.

ve cents each, by addressing thev Qommissioner of Patients,

Washington, D. GJ v o i 

